@kinkin
None of that makes any sense.
Digital audio transmission either works or it doesn't. There is no gradual loss of quality over long distances as with analog transmission. Once you reach a certain point it just stops working. Or in the rare case it "thinks" it's working and all you hear is extremely fucked up random static. And there is no "guesswork" involved other than parity.
The max distance at which this happens in the case of spdif:
-is so high that home users would never run into it
-is mostly dependant on the quality of the cable, not the type
-is generally higher with coaxial, not optical. The LEDs and thin plastic fiber used by optical spdif typically cut out after about 10-20 meters whereas good coax can go 30+.
-generally can't be reached unless you chain multiple cables together without a repeater since pretty much all cables are capable of transmitting their full distance (obviously)
Some audiophiles have suggested that optical produces inferior audio quality due to the additional clock jitter but there isn't much evidence to back this up.
Pros of optical:
-higher max bandwidth when using high quality cables which enables higher bitrate audio modes (OP is unlikely to make use of any of these assuming his receiver even supports them, it could be useful for someone trying to run uncompressed surround sound though)
-can be used in environments with strong RF interference (unless you plan on having the cable near a big power transformer I don't see this being an issue)
-no potential for ground loops (only an issue for stupid people)
Pros of coax
-higher max distance
-no signaling issues with cables being crushed or bent
-more flexible and durable cables
-less clock jitter in some equipment
Price is also mostly determined by the quality of the cable, not the type. Most people just use whichever one their equipment supports (usually optical) since most A/V equipment supports one or the other, not both.
Edit:
To clarify. This is because digital signals are virtually immune to RF interference and generally have built in error checking systems that reject corrupt data. The cables max length is based not on interference but rather at what point the power losses become so high that not enough electricity/light makes it through to the other end to register as a 1. This is the same to some degree with analog transmission but with analog the quality of the signal is also affected by distance since longer distances = more time to absorb interference.
None of that makes any sense.
Digital audio transmission either works or it doesn't. There is no gradual loss of quality over long distances as with analog transmission. Once you reach a certain point it just stops working. Or in the rare case it "thinks" it's working and all you hear is extremely fucked up random static. And there is no "guesswork" involved other than parity.
The max distance at which this happens in the case of spdif:
-is so high that home users would never run into it
-is mostly dependant on the quality of the cable, not the type
-is generally higher with coaxial, not optical. The LEDs and thin plastic fiber used by optical spdif typically cut out after about 10-20 meters whereas good coax can go 30+.
-generally can't be reached unless you chain multiple cables together without a repeater since pretty much all cables are capable of transmitting their full distance (obviously)
Some audiophiles have suggested that optical produces inferior audio quality due to the additional clock jitter but there isn't much evidence to back this up.
Pros of optical:
-higher max bandwidth when using high quality cables which enables higher bitrate audio modes (OP is unlikely to make use of any of these assuming his receiver even supports them, it could be useful for someone trying to run uncompressed surround sound though)
-can be used in environments with strong RF interference (unless you plan on having the cable near a big power transformer I don't see this being an issue)
-no potential for ground loops (only an issue for stupid people)
Pros of coax
-higher max distance
-no signaling issues with cables being crushed or bent
-more flexible and durable cables
-less clock jitter in some equipment
Price is also mostly determined by the quality of the cable, not the type. Most people just use whichever one their equipment supports (usually optical) since most A/V equipment supports one or the other, not both.
Edit:
To clarify. This is because digital signals are virtually immune to RF interference and generally have built in error checking systems that reject corrupt data. The cables max length is based not on interference but rather at what point the power losses become so high that not enough electricity/light makes it through to the other end to register as a 1. This is the same to some degree with analog transmission but with analog the quality of the signal is also affected by distance since longer distances = more time to absorb interference.
"Normally if given a choice between doing something and nothing, I’d choose to do nothing. But I would do something if it helps someone else do nothing. I’d work all night if it meant nothing got done."
-Ron Swanson
"I shall be a good politician, even if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else for that matter. "
-Mark Antony
-Ron Swanson
"I shall be a good politician, even if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else for that matter. "
-Mark Antony